Rod weeder



Nov. 29, 1966 D. L. CALKINS ETAL 3,238,430

ROD WEEDER Filed April 16, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Dwlsm- L- CALKnvs @scAR C. CALKINS LAWRENCE K. CARR/CK BY M A TTYS.

Nov. 29, 1966 Filed April 16, 1964 D. L. CALKINS ETAL ROD WEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5. Dwnsn'r L CALKINS OscAR C. CALKINS LAWRENC K CARRIcK ATTYs.

1966 D. L. CALKINS ETAL 3,283,430

ROD WEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1964 INVENTOR5 K 55m WN Kl rm s n w fW H T m A M A waw 1966 D. L. CALKINS ETAL 3,

ROD WEEDER Filed April 16, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TOR.S

DWIGHT L. CALKINS OSCAR C. CALKINS LAwneNcc-z K.CARRICK ATTYS- Nov. 29, 1966 D. 1.. CALKINS ETAL 3,238,480

ROD WEEDER Filed April 16, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 DWIGHT L. CALKINs OscAR C. CALKIN LAWRENCE K.CARRICK BY%L54 4 ATTYs.

1966 D. L. CALKINS ETA]...

ROD WEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet .3

Filed April 16, 1964 Nov. 29, 1966 D. L. CALKINS ETAL 3,288,480

ROD WEEDER Filed April 16, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR5 DWIGHT L. CAL/(INS OSCAR C. CALKINS LAWRENCE K. ARR/CK BY M ;%fl-/ ATTYs.

Nov. 29, 1966 D. L CALKINS ETAL 3,288,480

ROD WEEDER Filed April 16, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Dwnan'r L. CALK/Ns OSCAR C. CALKINS LAWRENCE K. CAR ICK ATTYS.

United States 3,288,480 ROD WEEDER Dwight L. Calkins, Oscar C. Calkins, and Lawrence K.

Carrick, Spokane, Wash., assignors to Calkins Manufacturing Company, Spokane, Wash.

Filed Apr. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 360,330 3 Claims. (Cl. 28043.23)

This invention relates to a rod weeder apparatus, and more broadly to a trailing type frame for rod weeders or similar farm implements.

It is desirable to utilize farm implements having a maximum width for field use far beyond that which can be trailed on a highway or road between fields. In the past, this factor has limited the width of such implements, or has required that they be made into detachable sections for transport on a truck bed. The present invention combines a novel framework and interrelated supporting wheel assemblies so that the apparatus can be trailed lengthwise along a highway without requiring any disassembly of the various components. In addition, a single set of wheels is utilized for field use, highway use, and field depth control.

It is a first object of this invention to provide such .an arrangement utilizing a simple transverse frame braced so as to provide the required drawing power for field use of the implement, as well as transport, while utilizing a minim-um of structural members.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus wherein the width of the arrangement can be substantially lessened prior to the trailing of the implement along a highway in a longitudinal position.

Another object of this invention is to provide wheel assemblies on the apparatus capable of being utilized for both field and transport use, the wheel assemblies further providing depth control of the working elevation of the implement carried thereon.

These and further objects of the invention will be evident from a study of the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of the invention and a modification thereof adapted for various working width-s. It is to be understood that the concept of the invention can be applied to many different structural embodiments, and that the details of the structures shown in the drawings are not to restrict the scope of the invention, which is set out in the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the complete rod weeder as made in two sections, the transport hitch not being shown in this view;

Patent FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the rod weeder shown I in FIGURE 1 after repositioning of the wheels for transport use and and folding the field hitch, the center portion of the apparatus being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the basic supporting framework shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 1, a portion of the field hitch being broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the apparatus as seen from the left in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front wheel assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear wheel assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the driving wheel assembly;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tail wheel assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;

ice

FIGURE 11 is a View similar to FIGURE 10 showing the apparatus in transport position; and

FIGURE 12 is a front elevation view of the apparatus as seen in FIGURE 11.

The basic concept of this invention is to provide a rod weeder or similar implement with a supporting framework having minimum structural detail and adapted to be reduced in width for transport hauling of the implement in a longitudinal direction, the wheel assemblies carrying the framework being designed for both transport and field use. The same wheel assemblies are also used for proper depth control. The basic framework and arrangement can be seen in FIGURES 1 through 3. The individual wheel assemblies are shown in FIGURES 6 through 9.

The frame structure includes a transverse frame member 10 formed of tubular material and shown in the first embodiment as two sections pivoted to one another about a centrally located pivot shaft 11. The frame member 10 is provided with the central joint at shaft 11 in order to allow it to better conform to the ground contour over which it must travel. The tubular frame member 10 is reinforced by a series of triangular braces generally designated in the drawings by the numeral 12. The braces 12 are welded or otherwise fixed to the frame member 10 and to the various wheel assemblies and driving boots for the powered rod as will be evident from the following description. It is to be noted that the braces 12 generally extend forward of the frame member 10, although they extend rearwardly beyond the frame member 10 at each end thereof. There also is provided a centrally located brace 13 that is also horizontal and which extends forwardly adjacent to the pivot shaft 11.

Extending forwardly from the front ends of the braces 12 are two side extensions 14 that join to a center extension 16 that is pivotally connected to the front end of the brace 13. The three extensions 14 and 16 form a triangular apex at the front of the rod weeder when the apparatus is set up for field use as seen in FIGURE 1. The side extensions 14 are pivoted to the triangular braces 12 about upright pivot shafts 15, while the center extension 16 is pivoted to the brace 13 about an upright pivot shaft 17. The two pivot shafts 15 are angularly offset slightly from the vertical so that when the extensions 14 are pivoted to locations parallelto the transverse frame member 10 (FIGURE 2) they overlap the center'brace 13. The center extension 16 is pivoted about a vertical axis at shaft 17 so as to lie alongside the folded side extension 14.

At each side of the center extension 16 adjacent its forward end is a bracket 18, 20 designed-to be rigidly connected to the forward end of the respective side extensions 14 to complete a triangular horizontal frame configuration that is symmetrical about'the center of the apparatus. The bracket 18 is provided with a horizontal longitudinal pivot shaft 21 so that the forward portion of the framework is pivoted coaxially with the pivot shaft 11 of the transverse frame member 10 in order to accommodate the ground contour without producing undue strain on the triangular members.

The front end of the center extension 16 is provided with a hitch connection 22of conventional construction, thethitch connection 22 being provided with a series of vertical apertures by which the hitch 22 can be secured to a tractor or other vehicle. The choice of connecting aperture determines the angular position of the frame member 10 relative to the supporting ground structure.

The two side extensions 14 are provided with complementary upright tie brackets 23 which are adapted to be bolted to one another when the extensions 14 have been folded to the lateral positions shown in FIGURE 2. The right hand extension 14 shown in FIGURE 1 also has a horizontal tie bracket 24 adapted to be secured to the bracket 20 on the center extension 16 when the center extension 16 has been folded to the transverse position shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, the forwardly extending extensions 14 and 16 can be selectively positioned in a trailing triangular configuration shown in FIGURE 1 for field use in pulling the transverse frame member in a direction perpendicular thereto, or can be folded and fixed to one another to form a parallel frame structure relative to the frame member 10 in a direction perpendicular thereto, or can be folded and fixed to one another to form a parallel frame structure relative to the frame member 10 for trailing purposes parallel thereto. In this manner a strong triangular trailing framework is provided for field use, which can be folded to a more narrow rigid structure for highway trailing purposes.

The basic structure shown in the first embodiment of the invention is carried by four wheel assemblies. The front wheel assembly, used only for field use, is generally designated by the numeral 25. The second wheel assembly, which is the driving wheel for the rod weeder, is designated by the numeral 38. The third wheel assembly, located at the rear of the apparatus when positioned for transport, is designated generally by the numeral 47. The fourth wheel assembly is a tail wheel shown by the numeral 57. The three wheel assemblies 38, 47, and 57 are utilized for both field and transport use.

During the description of the structure, the end of the apparatus shown to the left in FIGURES l and 2 shall be termed the front transport end of the frame and the opposite end shall be termed the rear transport end, referring to their relative locations when the frame is used for transport purposes. When referring to field use of the machine, the bottom of the apparatus as shown in FIG- URE 1 shall be termed the front field end of the various members and the top of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 shall be termed the rear field end of the various members.

At the left hand end of the structure as shown in FIG- URE 2 is a pivoted hitch member 85 having a conventional hitch assembly 86 and carried about a pivot shaft 87. The hitch member 85 can be selectively locked in an upright position for field use or in a lowered position for transport use. The hitch is not shown in FIGURE 1, due to size considerations, but would extend from the left or front transport side thereof.

The first wheel assembly 25, shown to the far right in FIGURE 1, and shown in enlarged detail in FIGURE 6, is used only during field use of the rod weeder. It includes a bracket 26 adapted to be fitted directly beneath the transverse member 10 and releasably fixed thereto by connecting U-bolts 28. The bracket 26 includes downwardly extending cars 27 which carry an extended wheel frame 30 about a pivot shaft 31 that is parallel to the length of the transverse frame member 10. The wheel frame 30 in turn carries a wheel 32 about a horizontal wheel axle 33.

Mounted within the bracket 26 and connected at the rear end thereof is a cylinder 34 having a piston rod connection to the wheel frame 30 at a removable shaft 35. The cylinder 34 is adapted to angularly locate the wheel frame 30 and wheel 32 relative to the transverse frame member 10 about the pivot shaft 31 for depth control purposes while the wheel 32 is maintained in ground contact.

The bracket 26 is also provided with a short length of chain 36 adapted to be selectively tied to a loop 37 on the wheel frame 30 in order to maintain the wheel frame 30 in an elevated position about the shaft 31 so that the wheel 32 is maintained out of ground contact. In most instances, it is necessary to disconnect the cylinder 34 from the wheel frame 30 by release of the connecting shaft 35 prior to the manual lifting of the wheel frame 30 and attachment of the chain 36 to loop 37. The wheel 32 will remain in a straight-ahead position at all times.

It is used for depth control of the adjacent end of the frame member 10 during field use of the assembly and is elevated out of ground contact during transport. The weight of the forward transport end of the transverse frame member 10 is borne by the hitch 32 while the apparatus is being trailed between fields.

The second wheel assembly, shown as the driving wheel for the rod mechanism, is best seen in FIGURE 8. It includes several elements identical to those previously described and designated by identical numbers. These include the bracket 26, ears 27, U-bolts 28 and pivot shaft 31. A modified wheel frame 40 is pivoted about the axis of the shaft 31 and extends forwardly therefrom in the same direction as the previously described wheel frame 30. The wheel frame 40 carries a ground engaging wheel 41 mounted on a wheel support 42. The wheel support 42 is a caster wheel support pivoted to the wheel frame 40 about an upright pivot shaft 43. The wheel frame 40 has a bracket 45 fixed at one side thereof adapted to receive a bolt 46 to selectively lock the wheel support 42 in the position shown in FIGURE 8 where the wheel axle 44 is aligned parallel to the transverse frame member 10. This locked position is utilized for field use of the apparatus. The bolt 46 is removed and the wheel 41 is allowed to freely pivot about the axis of the shaft 43 during transport use of the apparatus.

The second wheel assembly 38 is provided with a cylinder 34 connected to the wheel frame 40 at a shaft 35 in a manner identical to that previously described. The Wheel 41 always remains in ground contact during field or transport use, but is locked in a straight-ahead position for field use, while used as a free caster wheel during transport.

The third wheel assembly 47, shown at the left in FIG- URE 1 and best seen in FIGURE 7, also utilizes the previously described bracket 26, ears 27, U-bolts 28 and pivot shaft 31. In this instance, the pivot shaft 31 carries a relatively short wheel frame 48 that has mounted at its forward end a wheel support 50 carried about an upright pivot shaft 56. The wheel support 50 carries a ground engaging wheel 51 mounted about a horizontal axle 52. The wheel support 50 is not really pivotable in use, but is locked in a position wherein the axle 52 is either parallel to the transverse frame member 10 or perpendicular thereto. The positioning of wheel 51 is attained by means of a bracket 53 fixed at one side of the wheel frame 48 and complementary alternate brackets 54 fixed to the upper portion of the wheel support 50. The brackets 54 are offset degrees relative to one another, and are adapted to be alternately fixed to the bracket 53 by means of a bolt 55. In this manner, the wheel 51 is located in a straight ahead position for field or transport use.

The third wheel assembly 47 is also angularly positioned about the shaft 31 by means of a cylinder assembly 34 having a piston rod connection at shaft 35. The line of ground contact of the three wheels 32, 41 and 51 is substantially aligned across the apparatus when the various wheels are positioned for field use, so that the three cylinders 34 can be operated in concert by conventional control mechanisms to vary the elevation of the transverse frame member 10 relative to the supporting ground surface and thereby provide depth control for the rod mechamsm.

The fourth wheel assembly 57 is a tail wheel that extends rearwardly from the transverse frame member 10 in a direction perpendicular thereto when used in the field. The tail wheel assembly 57 is used only for highway transport, and provides a second free caster wheel located laterally relative to the second or driving wheel assembly 38. Its sole purpose is to provide lateral stability to the apparatus when being trailed longitudinally behind a towing vehicle. As seen in FIGURE 9, it includes a modified bracket 58 fixed below the transverse frame member 10 by means of U-bolts 28 as previously described. A wheel frame 60 is pivoted to the bracket 58 about a pivot shaft 61. The other end of the frame 60 pivotally carries a wheel support 62 about shaft 69. The pivoted wheel support 62 is provided with a wheel 63 rotatably mounted on support 62 by a central axle 64. The wheel frame 60 is selectively held in an upper position out of ground contact by abutment of a releasable pin 65 that extends across the bracket 58 in the position shown in FIGURE 9. For highway use, the pin 65 is received within an aperture 66 formed through the frame 60 so as to maintain the wheel 63 in ground contact, wherein it acts as a free caster wheel.

The rod weeder mechanism shown in the drawings is conventional and shown only by way of example as an implement to which this concept is applicable. It includes two transverse rods 67, each of which is driven by a conventional driving boot 68 and supported by spaced gooseneck assemblies 70. The respective driving boots 68 are powered in the example by means of universal connecting rods 71, releasably coupled to the axle 44 of the second driving wheel assembly 38, although the rods 67 could be driven from a power take off or any other conventional source in order to turn the rods 67 about their longitudinal central axes. The driving boots 68 are mounted on supporting brackets fixed to the triangular braces 12 as previously described so that the framework provides a direct towing connection for field use to the driving boots 68, while also insuring that the tranverse frame member has sufficient field towing connections throughout its length in order to properly pull the rod 67 through the field. The working elevation of the rods 67 is governed by manipulation of the cylinders 34 by means of fluid lines 72 connected to a source of fluid pressure, conventionally located on the towing vehicle or tractor.

Basically, the apparatus shown is designed to produce a double purpose framework, so that the apparatus drawn through a field to span a wide swath can be narrowed for pulling along a road during transport. The manner by which the field tongue assembly folds is believed to be evident from the above description and the illustration of FIGURE 2. When in field use, the three wheel assemblies 25, 38 and 47 are utilized to carry the transverse frame member 10 at the desired elevation selected by operation of cylinders 34. The fourth wheel assembly 57 is utilized, but is maintained in its elevated location with the wheel 63 out of ground contact (see FIGURE 4).

For towing purposes, the extensions 14 and 16 are locked relative to one another to provide a rigid central frame and to prevent damage to the frame member 10 during transport. The first wheel assembly 25 is released from its cylinder 34- and held with the wheel 32 out of ground engagement by means of the chain 36. Hitch 32 bears the weight of the front transport end of the assembly.

The second wheel 38 is prepared for transport use by release of the bolt 46 and rods 71, thereby allowing the wheel support 42 to pivot freely about the shaft 43. The fourth wheel assembly 57 is lowered by release of the pin 65 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 9, and mounting of the pin 65 through the aperture 66. The wheel 63 is in ground contact as a free caster wheel spaced to the side of the wheel 41, which also is a free caster wheel. In this manner the two wheels 41 and 63 form free pivoting wheels in order to lessen the turning radius of the relatively long frame assembly when pulled parallel to the member 10.

The third wheel assembly 47 is prepared for transport use by release of the bolt 55 and repositioning of bolt 55 through the alternate bracket 54 so that the wheel 51 is locked in a position aligned with the frame member 10.

In this manner, the weight of the front end of the apparatus for transport is carried by the hitch 86, the wheels 41 and 63 act as pivoted front wheels and the locked rear wheel 51 trails and supports the rear end of the framework. It is to be noted that the vertical axes of the two wheel supports 42 and 50 are in spaced planes parallel to the transverse frame member 10, so that the wheels 41 and 51 are not in alignment when turned for transport use (see FIGURE 5). In this manner the wheels used for transport use (41, 51 and 63) are each offset relative to one another to provide lateral stability to the rigid framework during pulling of the framework parallel to the frame member 10. However, by the same token, the three wheel assemblies 35, 38 and 46 are designed so that the wheels thereof, 32, 41 and 51 contact the supporting ground surfaces at a substantially aligned location when locked in a straight ahead direction for field use of the apparatus so that these three wheels can be effectively used in concert for depth control of the rods 67.

The same basic consideration and structures illustrated previously are shown in FIGURES 10 through 12 as applied to a wider apparatus used in three sections. In this instance, the frame member 10 is pivoted twice along its length about pivot shaft 11 and the triangular braces 12 are likewise pivoted about aligned axes so that the rigid framework can really accommodate to the ground contour during field use. In this instance, a rigid central rectangular framework 73 is added to the framework previously described. Framework 73 carries at each end thereof extensions 74 which extend outwardly to an apex 75 at which is located the pulling hitch for field use.

In this wider version, there are provided three rods 76, powered from a pair of driving wheels 78 mounted on wheel assemblies 80 identical to the wheels assemblies 38 previously described. The boots 77 that turn the rods 76 are powered by means of universal rod connections 81 that are turned by axles of the two wheels 78.

The wheel assemblies are identical to those previously described, including a front wheel assembly 25, two second "wheel assemblies 80 identical to the previously described assemblies 38, a third or rear wheel assembly 47 and a fourth or rail wheel assembly 57. The framework is utilized for towing purposes in the field in the configuration shown in FIGURE 10, and the extensions 74 can be folded back parallel to one another as shown in FIG- URE 11 for transport. The various wheel assemblies are alternately used in the manner previously described. Where additional stability is required for long trips, the rear wheel assembly 80 is preferably locked parallel to member 10 in the same manner as described relative to wheel assembly 47.

While the two embodiments shown has utilized two or three sections in the basic frame member 10, any number of sections can be used by duplicating the triangular framework so as to provide direct towing connections to the frame member 10 along spaced locations in order to be sure of proper towing strength for support of the rod mechanism. In each case, the frame member 10 supporting braces 12 are pivoted about spaced axes so as to accommodate ground contour, and the towing frame work is foldable so as to reduce its width during transport. The various wheels serve double duty for transport and field use, and the same wheel assemblies are also used for depth control of the rod mechanism. Minor modifications can obviously be made in the structure described without deviating from the basic concept embodied therein and for this reason the invention is intended to be restricted only by the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a farm implement adapted to be trailed behind a towing vehicle:

a transverse horizontal frame member;

hitch means at one end of said transverse frame member adapted to be selectively coupled to a vehicle for transport purposes;

additional horizontal frame members fixed to said transverse frame members in triangular configurations extending forwardly to a central apex;

hitch means at said apex adapted to be selectively coupled to a towing vehicle for field use;

first wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member adjacent said one end thereof including a wheel carried thereon for rotation about an axis parallel to said transverse frame member, said wheel means being pivotally carried on said transverse frame member, said wheel means being pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis;

first power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and said first wheel means adapted to selectively locate said first wheel means angularly about said transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereof in ground contact;

and means engageable between said transverse frame member and said first wheel means adapted to selectively maintain the wheel of said first wheel means in an elevated location not in ground contact;

second wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member intermediate the ends thereof and spaced from said first wheel means, said second wheel means including a wheel frame pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis, said second wheel means further including a wheel mounted on said wheel frame for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis, said wheel being carried on a wheel support pivoted to said wheel frame about an upright axis;

second power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and the wheel frame of said second wheel means adapted to selectively locate said wheel frame angularly about its transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereon in ground contact;

and means engageable between said wheel frame and said wheel support adapted to selectively lock said wheel support relative to said wheel frame with the wheel axis thereof parallel to said transverse frame member.

2. In a farm implement adapted to be trailed behind a towing vehicle;

a transverse horizontal frame member;

hitch means at one end of said transverse frame member adapted to be selectively coupled to a vehicle for transport purposes;

additional horizontal frame members fixed to said transverse frame members in triangular configurations extending forwardly to a central front apex;

hitch means at said apex adapted to be selectively coupled to a towing vehicle for field use;

first wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member adjacent said one end thereof including a wheel carried thereon for rotation about an axis parallel to said transverse frame member, said wheel means being pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis;

first power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and said first wheel means adapted to selectively locate said first wheel means angularly about said transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereof in ground contact;

and means engageable between said transverse frame member and said first wheel means adapted to selectively maintain the wheel of said first wheel means in an elevated location not in ground contact;

second wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member intermediate the ends thereof and spaced from said first wheel means, said second wheel means including a Wheel frame pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis, said second wheel means further including a wheel mounted on said wheel frame for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis, said Wheel being carried on a wheel support pivoted to said wheel frame about an upright axis;

second power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and the wheel frame of said second wheel means adapted to selectively locate said wheel frame angularly about its transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereon in ground contact;

means engageable between said wheel frame and said wheel support adapted to selectively lock said wheel support relative to said wheel frame with the wheel axis thereof parallel to said transverse frame member;

third wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member adjacent the remaining end thereof and spaced from said second wheel means, said third wheel means including a wheel frame pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis, said third wheel means further including a wheel mounted on said wheel frame for motion relative thereto about a horizontal axis, said wheel being carried on a wheel support pivoted to said wheel frame about an upright axis;

third power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and the wheel frame of said third wheel means adapted to selectively locate said wheel frame angularly about its transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereon in ground contact;

and means engageable between the wheel frame and wheel support of said third wheel means adapted to selectively lock the wheel support thereof relative to the wheel frame with the wheel axis thereof parallel to said transverse frame member or perpendicular thereto;

the upright axes of the wheel supports of said second and third wheel means being located in spaced parallel transverse planes.

3. In a farm implement adapted to be trailed behind a towing vehicle;

a transverse horizontal frame member;

hitch means at one end of said transverse frame member adapted to be selectively coupled to a vehicle for transport purposes;

additional horizontal frame members fixed to said trans verse frame members in triangular configurations extending forwardly to a central front apex;

hitch means at said apex adapted to be selectively coupled to a towing vehicle for field use;

first wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member adjacent said one end thereof including a wheel carried thereon for rotation about an axis parallel to said transverse frame member, said wheel means being pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis;

first power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and said first wheel means adapted to selectively locate said first wheel means angularly about said transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereof in ground contact;

and means engageable between said transverse frame member and said first wheel means adapted to selectively maintain the wheel of said first wheel means in an elevated location not in ground contact;

second wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member intermediate the ends thereof and spaced from said first wheel means, said second wheel means including a wheel frame pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis, said second wheel means further including a wheel mounted on said wheel frame for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis, said wheel being carried on a wheel support pivoted to said wheel frame about an upright axis;

second power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and the wheel frame of said second wheel means adapted to selectively locate said wheel frame angularly about its transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereon in ground contact;

means engageable between said Wheel frame and said Wheel support adapted to selectively lock said wheel support relative to said Wheel frame with the wheel axis thereof parallel to said transverse frame member;

third wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member adjacent the remaining end thereof and spaced from said second wheel means, said third wheel means including a wheel frame pivotally carried on said transverse frame member about a transverse pivotal axis, said third wheel means further including a wheel mounted on said Wheel frame for motion relative thereto about a horizontal axis, said wheel being carried on a wheel support pivoted to said wheel frame about an upright axis;

third power means operatively connected between said transverse frame member and the Wheel frame of said third wheel means adapted to selectively locate said wheel frame angularly about its transverse pivotal axis relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereon in ground contact;

means engageable between the wheel frame and wheel support of said third wheel means adapted to selectively lock the Wheel support thereof relative to the wheel frame with the wheel axis thereof parallel to said transverse frame member or perpendicular thereto;

the upright axes of the wheel supports of said second and third wheel means being located in spaced parallel transverse planes;

fourth Wheel means mounted on said transverse frame member at the center portion thereof, including a caster wheel carried thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis while in ground contact, said fourth wheel means being extended from said transverse frame member oppositely to said second wheel means;

and means engageable between said transverse frame member and said fourth Wheel means adapted to fix the location of said fourth Wheel means relative to said transverse frame member with the wheel thereof either in ground contact or elevated above ground contact.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,121 8/1932 Christensen 172-44 X 1,941,539 1/1934 Court et a1. 172-44 2,270,021 3/1954 Brundage 172-413 X 2,687,073 8/1954 Thorp 172456 X 2,696,772 12/ 1954 Underdown 172-44 X 3,108,642 10/1963 Hunter 17244 FOREIGN PATENTS 671,719 10/1953 Canada. 691,526 5/1953 Great Britain.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

C. C. PARSONS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FARM IMPLEMENT ADAPTED TO BE TRAILED BEHIND A TOWING VEHICLE: A TRANSVERSE HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBER; HITCH MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY COUPLED TO A VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT PURPOSES; ADDITIONAL HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS FIXED TO SAID TRANVERSE FRAME MEMBERS IN TRIANGULAR CONFIGURATIONS EXTENDING FORWARDLY TO A CENTRAL APEX; HITCH MEANS AT SAID APEX ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY COUPLED TO A TOWING VEHICLE FOR FIELD USEF FIRST WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT SAID ONE END THEREOF INCLUDING A WHEEL CAREID THEREON FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER, SAID WHEEL MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER, SAID WHEEL MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER ABOUT A TRANSVERSE PIVOTAL AXIS; FIRST POWER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER AND SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY LOCATE SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS ANGULARLY ABOUT SAID TRANSVERSE PIVOTAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER WITH THE WHEEL THEREOF IN GROUND CONTACT; AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE BETWEEN SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER AND SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY MAINTAION THE WHEEL OF SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS IN AN ELEVATED LOCATION NOT IN GROUND CONTACT; SECOND WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS, SAID SECOND WHEEL MEANS INCLUDING A WHEEL FRAME PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER ABOUT A TRANSVERSE PIVOTAL AXIS, SAID SECOND WHEEL MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING A WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID WHEEL FRAME FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID WHEEL BEING CARRIED ON A WHEEL SUPPORT PIVOTED TO SAID WHEEL FRAME ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS; SECOND POWER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER AND THE WHEEL FRAME OF SAID SECOND WHEEL ANGULARLY ABOUT ITS TRANSVERSE PIVSAID WHEEL FRAME ANGULARLY ABOUT ITS TRANSVERSE PIVOTAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER WITH THE WHEEL THEREON IN GROUND CONTACT; AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE BETWEEN SAID WHEEL FRAME AND SAID WHEEL SUPPORTED ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY LOCK SAID WHEEL SUPPORT RELATIVE TO SAID WHEEL FRAME WITH THE WHEEL AXIS THEREOF PARALLEL TO SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER. 